Bed size--Grayswood Hydrangea too large?

12 years ago

I have a small bed about 6-1/2 to 7 feet long x 3 ft wide which is in the front yard with a 6ft solid white fence as the background. It is Eastern Exposure, mostly morning sun, early afternoon. The left side would be a cobblestone walkway and fence so that cannot be blocked. The opposite side is a very tall arborvitae.

Recently, I have purchased 2 PJM Rhododendrons, 2 Grayswood Hydrangea and one Center Glow Ninebark. I am debating which of these should go in this space because it is so small. Would anyone suggest 1 Grayswood and if so, how long would that take to fill the bed?

This bed always had perennials--wild lilies that I was tired of, Bachelor's buttons and Coneflower so it had a lot of color but I was thinking of bushes now.

Thanks,
Dina

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Comments (3)

NHBabs z4b-5a NH
12 years ago
Center Glow is a 6-8 foot high and wide ninebark, and I don't think that ninebarks look great when pruned for width, so I wouldn't put that in a 3' wide spot. (I think even the smallest ninebarks are unlikely to fit there.)

In my experience, PJM rhododendrons tend to be about 6 feet in all directions, so it would take quite a bit of pruning to keep them out of the walkway.

I am not familiar with Grayswood hydrangea, but I do know that there are several of the newer varieties of hydrangea that are supposed to stay at around 3-4 feet in all directions, so a small hydrangea may be your best bet, or you can try finding a shrub that has been selected for narrow growth. IME, it's a lot of work to keep a shrub that wants to grow large looking well-shaped and blooming at a smaller size.
October_Gardens
12 years ago
I have a Grayswood hydrangea that hasn't exceeded 3x3' in 4 years. It also grows upright and doesn't splay out.
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hokierustywilliamsbu
12 years ago
My Grayswood is 5 and a half feet tall and maybe 2-3 wide as it grows upright for me and is not a mounding plant. One should work fine.